For decades, “Blue Water” Navy veterans, those who served offshore rather than on the ground or in Vietnam’s inland waterways, were left out of the presumption of Agent Orange exposure that applied to their “Brown Water” and boots-on-the-ground counterparts.

That changed with the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which extended the presumption of herbicide exposure to veterans who served aboard a U.S. Navy or Coast Guard vessel operating within 12 nautical miles of the coast of Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975.

However, proof is required that a service member’s ship was actually inside that 12-mile zone for dates served aboard a U.S. Naval ship.

Hill & Ponton, a veterans disability law firm, has built an interactive Blue Water Navy map that lets veterans and their families check whether a specific ship’s recorded deck log positions fall inside the eligible zone. The tool works by plotting coordinates pulled from National Archives deck logs, cruise books, and other ship history records against the 12-nautical-mile boundary defined by the law.

The USS Calvert is available in the ships’ list for this interactive map, and shows the ship’s position in January 1966 as anchored in Danang Harbor which corresponds to historical records.

For the full, official eligibility requirements, including the complete list of presumptive conditions, the other locations and service periods that qualify for presumptive exposure, and how to file a claim or supplemental claim, visit this VA website: Agent Orange Exposure and Disability Compensation (VA.gov)

If you believe your ship operated within the eligible zone, the next step is gathering your military records (like your DD214) and any supporting evidence of your service dates and location, then filing a claim — or a Supplemental Claim if you were previously denied before the law changed.

Note: This post is for general informational purposes and isn’t legal or medical advice. Every veteran’s service record and claim is different — if you think you may qualify, consider speaking with an accredited VA representative or a veterans disability attorney about your specific situation.